Independent filmmakers often have stories worth telling but limited opportunities to get their work in front of new audiences. For screenwriters, the challenge can be even greater: a compelling script may remain on a page for years before finding the right opportunity.
LikeGala hopes to create more room for these creative voices during its inaugural edition in London on April 21, 2027. The international film festival will bring together completed films, screenplays and projects in development, recognising original storytelling across different formats, genres and production scales.
Taking place at Close-Up Film Centre in Shoreditch, the event will feature a curated film screening and awards presentation. With 12 award categories and a programme that extends beyond traditional filmmaking, LikeGala is positioned as an event for creators with ideas they want the world to see.
What to Expect at LikeGala 2027
The first LikeGala festival coincides with World Creativity and Innovation Day. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Close-Up Film Centre, an independent cinema venue at 97 Sclater Street, London.
Rather than simply recognising projects online, LikeGala plans to bring selected films to a live audience. The screening programme will be curated, with invitations determined separately from award status. This means receiving an award or entering the competition does not automatically guarantee a screening slot.
Entries will be assessed by a jury of working professionals from the film and media industries. The festival has yet to announce its jury members, with further details expected ahead of the event.
For filmmakers, the London gathering offers an opportunity to have their work considered within a dedicated festival programme. For audiences, it promises a chance to discover stories and creative approaches that might otherwise receive less attention.
A Film Festival That Welcomes More Than Completed Films
One of LikeGala’s defining features is the range of projects it accepts. While many film competitions concentrate on finished productions, LikeGala also welcomes writers and creators who are still developing their next project.
Submissions cover feature films, short films, micro shorts, feature screenplays, short screenplays, series pilot screenplays, film or series concepts, and AI-assisted short films.
The micro-short category is designed for films running five minutes or less, including credits. It gives filmmakers working with a compact format another opportunity to compete, while the screenplay and concept categories open the door to creators whose ideas have not yet reached production.
The festival also has dedicated horror awards and a Best Microbudget Achievement category. Eligible entries can receive consideration for these distinctions without requiring a separate submission.
With this, LikeGala aims to recognise different stages of the creative process, from a completed independent feature to a script that could eventually become a film or series.
Twelve Awards, With Storytelling at the Centre
LikeGala will present 12 awards, including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Horror Feature Film, Best Horror Short Film, Best Micro Short, Best Feature Screenplay and Best Short Screenplay.
Other categories include Best Series Pilot Screenplay, Best Horror Screenplay, Best Film or Series Concept, Best AI Film and Best Microbudget Achievement.
The variety reflects the festival’s emphasis on originality, storytelling, creative voice and execution rather than production spending alone. A smaller production is not automatically at a disadvantage simply because it lacks the resources of a larger project.
Award winners will receive official LikeGala winner status, digital certificates, official laurels, publication in the festival’s results and promotional coverage across LikeCine, LikeHorror and their social media channels.
Winners will also receive a media promotion package for one future film or screen project. Depending on the project, this can include an announcement, interview or dedicated feature on the relevant LikeMedia platform, alongside supporting social promotion. The package must be redeemed within 24 months of the award announcement and remains subject to editorial review and the provision of suitable materials.
Selected principal categories will also receive a physical festival statuette and printed winner’s diploma.
Independent Filmmaking, Microbudgets and AI-Assisted Stories
LikeGala’s approach acknowledges that filmmaking does not follow a single path. Some creators work with established production teams, while others make films with limited resources or experiment with new tools.
The Best Microbudget Achievement award recognises filmmakers working with smaller budgets. Rather than treating production scale as the primary measure of quality, the festival says it will consider how effectively creators use their available resources.
The competition also has a dedicated category for AI-assisted filmmaking. Eligible short films may use generative artificial intelligence as part of a human-led creative process, but entrants must disclose the tools used, the elements generated or materially altered, and their own creative contributions.
Projects must demonstrate meaningful human direction. Fully automated submissions without identifiable human authorship or creative control may be disqualified.
These categories provide an opportunity to engage with changing approaches to film production while maintaining clear expectations around authorship and creative responsibility.
How Filmmakers Can Submit to LikeGala 2027
Submissions are open to filmmakers, screenwriters, and creative teams worldwide through LikeGala’s FilmFreeway page.
Completed films must have been made on or after January 1, 2024. The festival does not require premiere status, meaning films that have previously appeared at other festivals, been distributed, or become available online remain eligible, provided they meet the other requirements.
Films primarily in languages other than English must include accurate English subtitles. Screenplays, treatments, and concepts must be submitted in English, and written entries must follow the relevant category requirements.
The published submission calendar lists November 21, 2026, as the regular deadline, December 21 as the late deadline, and January 21, 2027, as the final deadline. Filmmakers should check the official festival website for current fees, category rules, and submission details before entering.
